On 16 January 2025, Mr. Kamel Baddari, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Accompanied by the local authorities, oversaw the inauguration of the Institute of Criminology at the University of Oran 1 “Ahmed Ben Bella”, and inspected the Centre for the Development of Entrepreneurship and the Central Library of the University.

The minister began his visit by the inauguration of the Institute of Criminology of the “Ahmed Ben Bella” University, Oran 1, the first of its kind at the national, Arab and African levels. It includes 620 first year students, 120 master’s students in criminal law, criminal sciences and criminology. The Institute offers various specialities such as forensics, criminal procedure law, cybercrime, financial crimes and others.

Mr. Baddari stated that the Institute of Criminology will grant a qualitative leap, rationalization and quality to higher education and scientific research in Algeria.

He also inaugurated the first digital library nationwide, at the central library of the University in the “Dr. Taleb Salim Mourad” complex at the University of Oran 1.

It is possible to access this library and consult all the documents thanks to an electronic chip integrated into each book. All digitalized books are equipped with this chip, allowing students to explore them freely. Access is granted to all, whether to consult on site or to borrow the book to take home, in the latter case, an authorization is required.

Mr. Kamel Baddari revealed that the sector will work to digitalise all university libraries of the country, with the aim of improving access to scientific resources and promoting the use of technology in higher education.

He also spoke at the closing ceremony of the activities of the Winter School, dedicated to open software “Linux”, organised by the University of Oran 1 “Ahmed Ben Bella” a few days ago. He stressed that learning open and free software offers doctoral students economic, moral and social benefits as well. This will allow Algeria to position itself  in the field of cybersecurity, and to be distinguished as a competitive country with university degrees and an Algerian information system, a powerful country that masters advanced technologies that will give it the opportunity it to compete with the most developed countries.

The Minister inspected the project of the green chemistry research Unit at the “Abdelmalek Mortad” complex in the municipality of Bir El Djir, where he emphasized the necessity to operate this unit and promote its added value in the local and national economy.

He visited start-ups exposition labelled “innovative project”, which was defined by a great number of start-ups and micro-enterprises created by the University of Oran 1, and which will promote the economic role of the university, as well as to create various added values to the local and national economy. Mr. Baddari stated that he was prepared to place the structures at the disposal of young entrepreneurs to launch the production process.